Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services is not required to verify positions within the Department of Juvenile Justice requiring licensure by the State Board of Education under the School Code. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Makes a technical change concerning the sealing of records. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that if a minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and who resides in the State is charged under the criminal laws of this State, the criminal laws of any other state, or the federal jurisdiction with similar penalties with an offense that could result in a sentence of imprisonment within the Department of Corrections, another state's department of corrections, or the federal Bureau of Prisons, the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice and all rights and duties created by that commitment are automatically suspended pending final disposition of the criminal charge. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall include in its report to the Governor and General Assembly staff-to-youth ratios in accordance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act definitions. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Department of Central Management Services is not required to verify the license, endorsement, or both, of individuals seeking positions within the Department of Juvenile Justice requiring licensure by the State Board of Education. Provides that if, while on aftercare release, a minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice who resides in the State is charged under the criminal laws of this State, the criminal laws of any other state, or federal law with an offense that could result in a sentence of imprisonment within the Department of Corrections, the penal system of any state, or the federal Bureau of Prisons, the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice and all rights and duties created by that commitment are automatically suspended pending final disposition of the criminal charge. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. With regard to special education joint agreements, provides that under no circumstances may a petition for withdrawal from a joint agreement be presented to other member districts less than 18 months from the date of the proposed withdrawal. Provides that if a petition for withdrawal is not approved by the other member districts, any petitioning member district (rather than only a petitioning member district that is part of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants) may appeal the disapproval. Provides that the trustees of schools of the township having jurisdiction and authority over the withdrawing district or the hearing panel established by the chief administrative officer of the intermediate service center having jurisdiction over the withdrawing district shall convene and hear testimony to determine whether the withdrawing district has presented sufficient evidence that the district, standing alone, will provide a full continuum of services and support to all its students with disabilities in the foreseeable future; specifies requirements for the withdrawing district prior to the hearing. Provides that each withdrawing district shall develop a comprehensive plan that includes the administrative policies and procedures outlined in specified special education rules of the State Board of Education and all relevant portions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Provides that the withdrawing district must also demonstrate its ability to provide education for a wide range of students with disabilities, including a full continuum of support and services. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that under no circumstances may a petition to withdraw from a joint agreement be presented to other member districts less than 12 (rather than 18) months from the date of the proposed withdrawal, unless the member districts agree to waive this timeline. Provides that upon approval by school board written resolution of all remaining member districts, the petitioning member district must submit its comprehensive plan to the State Board for review. Removes a provision providing that the petitioning member district shall be withdrawn from the joint agreement effective the following July 1. Provides that, in the event of a hearing conducted by a hearing panel, the withdrawing district must, prior to the hearing and among other requirements, hold a public hearing to allow for the opportunity to review (rather than hear) the plan for educating students after the withdrawal and prepare and provide a comprehensive plan (rather than prepare evidence that it has all of the components of a comprehensive plan).

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Restaurant Meals Program to permit individuals who are elderly, persons with a disability, and homeless individuals to redeem their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals for eligible SNAP recipients at concessional prices. Requires the Restaurant Meals Program to be operational no later than January 1, 2020. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to increase TANF grant amounts in effect on June 30, 2008 by 15%. Provides that TANF grant amounts shall be apportioned as follows: 75% shall be designated for the child or children of the assistance unit; and 25% shall be designated for the adult member or members of the assistance unit. Removes a provision that permits the discontinuance of all or a part of a TANF recipient's grant amount as a penalty for noncompliance with TANF education, training, and employment programs. Requires the Department to, by rule, impose a 30% reduction of the portion of the grant amount designated for the adult member or members of an assistance unit when a member is found to be in noncompliance with program requirements without good cause. Provides that no sanction shall reduce the portion of the grant amount that is designated for any child of the assistance unit. Requires the full grant amount to be restored when an adult member or members are determined to be in compliance with program requirements. Provides that homelessness, receipt of an eviction notice, discontinued utilities, and other specified circumstances shall constitute good cause for failure to participate in required TANF education, training, and employment programs. Provides that beginning October 1, 2019, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum TANF benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 30% of the most recent poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for each family size. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Requires every hospital to ensure that it has the proper instruments available for taking a pregnant woman's blood pressure. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules for the implementation of the requirement.

Creates the Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall establish a Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Program. Provides that the purpose of the Program shall be to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. Provides that the Department of Public Health may accept for that purpose any special grant of moneys, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or medical school. Provides that the Program shall focus on the development of specified programs and services. Provides that the Department shall prepare an information booklet in English, Spanish, and Mandarin which provides information about the symptoms and treatment of Parkinson's disease. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that establishment of the Program is subject to appropriation.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years (rather than 5 school years like other mandate waivers) and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by an eligible applicant. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may be changed within the 2-year period by the school board or regional superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following the procedure set forth in the Code for the initial waiver or modification request. Provides that a school board may determine the schedule or frequency of physical education courses, provided that an elementary school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 150 minutes per week and a middle school, junior high school, or high school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 225 minutes per week (rather than engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week). Provides that if a student non-attendance day is scheduled for a day that would otherwise include a physical education class or if the school building is not otherwise open to students on a day that would otherwise include a physical education class, a student is not required to make up the minutes from that class; defines "student non-attendance day". Effective July 1, 2019.

Creates the Feminine Hygiene Products For The Homeless Act. Provides that feminine hygiene products, including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons, and panty liners, shall be available free of charge at all homeless shelters that provide temporary housing assistance to women or youth.

Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking an associate or bachelor's degree from a public institution or a regionally accredited, online-only early childhood education degree program; defines terms. Specifies grant eligibility and renewal requirements. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on all matters relating to the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program and on the ways to improve and expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Provides for the membership and support of the Committee and requires the Committee to (i) study and make recommendations to the Commission that are related to the implementation of the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program, (ii) conduct an analysis from data received by the Commission to ensure the program is at full utilization, (iii) address access issues to the program, including, but not limited to, geographic, financial, cultural, and workplace settings, and (iv) address ways to expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Expands the definition of "child care worker". Changes the definition of "early childhood degree program" to a regionally accredited degree program (rather than online degree program) administered solely through an Illinois-based, not-for-profit organization or through a public institution through which a child care worker may attain a degree or credential or maintain a classroom role in any child care or early childhood education setting, including a Child Development Associate Credential program or an Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program beginning with the 2020-2021 (rather than 2019-2020) academic year and subject to appropriation. Provides that, if other eligibility requirements are met, an eligible child care worker seeking to enroll in an alternative educator licensure program under the School Code is eligible for a grant under the program. Removes a provision allowing for exceptions to a student's initial enrollment in a public institution or an early childhood degree program for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules by the Commission. Provides that, in awarding grants under the program, if, in any fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the grants is less than the amount determined necessary to cover the cost of attendance for all eligible applicants, then the Commission must proportionately reduce the grants accordingly (rather than must develop the selection and renewal criteria for students). Requires the Illinois Early Learning Council (rather than the Commission) to provide the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee with administrative and other support. Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Changes the definition of "early childhood degree program". Provides that if a student chooses to enroll in a private institution, the grant awarded to the student under the program shall be no more than 150% of the highest rate paid on behalf of students in a similar program at a public institution to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, less all other student aid. Provides that after completion of or disenrolling from his or her program of study, a student must reside and work within this State in a child care or early childhood education setting for a minimum of one year. Provides that if the student does not reside and work within this State for a minimum of one year, the student must repay the total grant amount awarded to him or her through installments in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Advisory Committee (rather than the Early Childhood Workforce Committee), established by the Illinois Early Learning Council; changes the membership of the Committee and the Committee's duties. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.